Seal for car-doors.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

J. HOLMER. SEAL FOR GAR DOORS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 1907.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oriuon.

JOHN HOLMER, OF SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OARL M.STRAND,

OF SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEAL FOR CAR-DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed July 29,1907. Serial No. 385,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HOLMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at South Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Seal forOar-Doors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in seals, for car doors, of theautomatic or self-locking type, and it consists in certain peculiaritiesof the construction, novel arrangements and operation of the variousparts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth andspecifically claimed. p

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple,inexpensive and reliable construction, which involves a positiveautomatic engagement of the two ends of the shackle within the shell orcasing, and which will not permit of the withdrawal or detachment ofsuch ends after engagement without apparent mutila tion of the shell orcasing. Further objects and advantages of the invention will bedisclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains, to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it,referring to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view,partly in section and partly in elevation, of a seal embodying myinvention, showing the parts in their locked positions. Fig. 2 is afragmental perspective view of the ends of the shackle, illustrating themeans for securing them together, and the parts in the position theywill occupy just prior to the engagement of the ends of the shackle, theshell or casing being omitted in said view. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofaportion of the shackle, showing the removable end thereof, partlyinserted in the guide way therefor, on the other end. Fig. 4 is anenlarged cross sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspectiveview of the locking dog or catch, showing it detached. Fig. 6 is aninner view of one of the members of the shell or casing;-and-Fig. 7 is asimilar view of the guard member of the casing.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views of the drawing.

The reference numeral 10 designates the shackle, which is made of anarrow strip of sheet metal or other flexible material which may be bentto form a loop, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. A portion of one end11 of the shackle is provided with a part or flap 12, which is bent overso as to lie longitudinally with respect to the end 11, and slightlyabove the same, thus forming a guide way 13 for the reception of theother end 14 of the shackle, which is formed with a rectangular opening15, for the reception and operation of a portion of the locking dog, aswill be presently desired to secure them together.

' explained. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the

portion 11, as well as the member'12, is provided with a rectangularopening 16, which is adapted to register with the opening 15 when theportion 14 is inserted between the portion 11 and member 12. Outwardlyfrom the opening 16, the portion 11 and flap 12. are provided withrecesses 17 in their edges, thus leaving a narrow stem 18 between saidrecesses. Surrounding the portion 11 and flap 12 and a portion of theiropenings 16, is an elastic band 19, which is used for the purpose ofactuating the locking dog or catch 20, which is preferably ofsubstantially the form shown in Fig. 5, that is, it has at its upperportion a fiat plate 21,

from which depends a cam-shaped projection 22, which is adapted to passthrough the openings in the parts ll, 12 and 14, and to lock themtogether as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the lock ing dog 20 has atone of its ends, a flange 23, which projects beyond the upper portion ofthe projection 22, and is designed to rest on the transversed portion 24or free end of the member 14 when the parts are in alocked position. Theshell or casing which surrounds the locking dog 20 and the retainingband 19 therefor, comprises two semi-spherical members 25 and 26, eachof which is formed with a diametrical slot 27, to receive the portions11 and 12 of the shackle. The members 25 and 26 are counterparts of oneanother, except that one of said members, for instance, 26 is formed atits periphery with a flange 28 to overlap a shorter flange 29, on theperiphery of the other member, when it is Located within the cavity ofthe member 26, is a guard member 30, which is semispherical in shape andis provided with a diametrical slot 31, for the passage of the parts 11and 12, and has a centrally enlarged opiening 32 for the reception ofthe stem 18 and to permit said member being turned thereon.

The operation of the device is simple and as follows The projection 22of the locking dog 20, is placed in the opening 16 of the flap orportion 12, so that it will as sume substantially the position shown inFig. 2, that is to say, so that the flange portion 23 will depend insaid opening, as well as in the opening in portion 11, while theprojection 22 will rest on the edge of the opening' 16, farthest fromthe end of the portion 11. The elastic band 19 is then placed in aboutthe position shown in Fig. 2, when the guard member 30 may be slid up tothe position thereof, shown in Fig. l, by passing the portions 11 and 12through the slot 31, when by turning said member until said slot islocated at a right angle to the surface of the portion 12, after whichthe members 25 and 26 may be brought together and clenched by bendingthe flange 28 on one of them, over the flange 29 on the other one, bymeans of a suitable instrument or otherwise. It should be understoodthat the member of the casing should be placed on the portions 11 and 12before the locking dog is placed in position. After the parts have beenthus assembled, the portion 14 of the shackle is slid in the guide Way13, between the portions 11 and 12, in which space it is apparent thatthe free end of the member 14, will strike the cam surface of theprojection 22, and thus slightly raise the dog 20, the elastic band 19permitting of such movement of the dog. By pressing the portion 14farther towards the end of the portion 11, it is apparent that theprojection 22 on the dog 20, will pass through the opening 15 in theportion 14, and by reason of its gravity, as Well as by reason of theaction of the band 19, said dog Will assume the position shown in Fig.1, or so that its plate 21 and flange 23 will rest on the upper surfacesof the portions 12 and 24 respectively, thus 'firmly locking the ends ofthe shackle together and in such a manner that they cannot be separatedWithout detection.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

The combination with a shackle having near one of its ends an openingand provided at its other end with a longitudinally disposed and spacedapart member, the said member and underlying portion of the shackle eachhaving an opening in register with one another, and also pro vided withrecesses in their edges, of a lockiugndoghaving a projection adapted toengage the openings in the ends of the shackle, and also means toprevent it passing entirely through said openings, an elastic bandsurrounding the longitudinal member and underlying portion of theshackle at the openings therein, and adapted to retain the dog. first inits inclined position, and afterwards in its locking position, aguard-member rotatably mounted on the shackle at the recesses therein. ashell or easing member movably mounted on the shackle near each end 01'the opening in said longitudinal member, and means to secure said shellor casing members together, around the dog, hand and guard-member:

JOHN llOlJlllli.

Witnesses E, M. LINDIIOLM, Crus. C. TILLMAN.

